Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-20
A 500, 900 DEBT OF HONOR.
Banker Williams of Charleston, S. c., Re.
turns ~ Northern Trust

turns Northern Trust
The following particulars OF the very
extraordinary financial transaction by
which nearly 800 900 have been restored
to man who had no legal claim TO it, are
given by the New York World. The par
ties to the transaction were Daniel Hand.
wealthy citizen Of Guilford, a slow village
near New Haven, and George Williams
! OF Charleston, 5. c., a member of the
banking firm of Williams e. Birney The
| firm also have an office in New York CITY.
Mr.. Hand and Mr.. Williams were in the
grocery business on a large scale in Au-
gusta, Ga, before the war, or rather Mr..
Hand was in business and Mr.. Williams
was his bookkeeper, with small interest
in the business. Mr.. Hand had real estate
in the South worth about 800, 900 and was
one of the wealthiest citizens of that sec
ton. AT the outbreak of the war the gro
Gerry business was wound up ard Mr..
Hand determined not to risk the fortunes
of war in the South, but to come to this
State and settle. Mr. Williams deter
mined to take his chances in the
South. Mr.. Hand was in a quandary
as to what to do with his real estate. He
thought that the war would wreck the
value of his property, and he knew that
if he attempted to take the deeds of the
property north with him and should be
searched on the way, the deeds would be
contiscated and turned over to the Con-
federate Government, which was estab-
llShed at that time. In fact, the South
ern officials were on the alert in his case
and they suspected that he was going to
take some property North with him that
would be valuable to the cause. He was
arrested and detained on suspicion but he
found way out of his difficulties by 90
ing. before Southern magistrate and
swearing that all his property belonged to
his partner, Williams, and then he was
allowed to go his way.
Mr.. Hand turned the property over to
young Williams with the private under
standing that Williams would return it
to him after peace had been restored, if
he had it and felt SO disposed. No actual
obligations were laid on Mr.. Williams's
shoulders. His honor was all that Hand
could depend upon. The war went on
apace, and as Mr.. Hand had partially
foreseen, the property was wrecked.
Young Williams, in fact, had lost it all,
or nearly al in the year succeeding the
outbreak of the rebellion. He afterward
prospered, got into the brokerage bust
ness in Charleston and made money rapid
ly.
Meanwhile Daniel Hand had been living
here on his place in Gullford. His depar-
ture from the South had by no means re-
suited in the destruction of his entire for
tune. With what money he had left he
made shrewd investments, and like his
young bookkeeper, he made money
Sometime ago he endowed the Hand
academy in Madison, which he built, and
he is also said to have given large sum
of money to the Yale Divinity school, in
New Haven. Until about six years ago he
did nothing toward recovering the prop
erty he had left in so peculiar manner
with Mr. Williams. He regarded it as tor
tally lost and did not worry much aboutit.
Six years ago. however, he consulted with
Judge Morris and explained to him that
he did not want Mr. Williams pressed for
the money, but if Mr.. Williams was will
ing to restore the value of the property
Mr.. Hand would be glad to get it.
Judge Morris advised his client that he
had no legal rights in the case. The judge
ascertalned Mr.. Williams's address, and
communicated with him at once. Mr.. Will
lams wrote, acknowledged the obligation,
and promised to pay not only the 100000,
but also the interest accrung since the
time when the the property came into his
| possession. The tone of his letters indi-
| Gated that he was entirely willing and
| perhaps anxious to do this, and he did not
| propose to allow any legal bubble to pre-
vent him from redeeming his trust and
indicating his honor. The amount was
paid upon large installments, and the to-
tai sum is given out as $3.50, 900 or there
abouts. Mr.. Williams is very prominent
man in Charleston. He entertained Sec
rotary Lamar and other dgnitaries at a
| reception given at the time the Calhoun
monument was unveiled, short time
ago.